Quote Originally Posted by BlackMage
I'd suggest you let your kids play outside, ride bikes, etc., but I see now that you live in Alaska.
So are you suggesting that my children don't play outside or ride bicycles, Mage? Let me defend myself: They are normal kids in a normal family and we do lot's of activities. The fact that we live in Alaska means that they get to sled and snowboard and ride their snowmobiles, learn mountian climbing and ice fishing, hike and camp in some of the most beautiful country on Earth, just to name a few things our family enjoys. And all that is on top of the normal kid stuff like playing in parks and in the sandbox and, of course, ride bikes. Just because my children also enjoy acedemia doesn't mean that they don't lead well balanced lives. I'm not forcing learning on them, it's just a part of our normal lives. Since they are in my constant care, life for them means that whatever we are doing is in the context of a "life" classroom. They are very interested in languages since we have relatives living in various areas of the globe. I'd like to feed their love of learning when they are young so that they have a good foundation for life. I'm disheartened that so many Americans only speak one language, myself included in that group, but I'd like to change that for my children. Therefore, I will do what I am able in order to procure the tools necessary for the nurture and development of those in my care. I would rather not be a passive parent, especiallly in the area of education.

I'm not trying to be conceited; I know I can be at times. However, I am merely explaining that I am going against the tide of volunteering my children to the government education of this country that produces lazy, non-thinking spawn. I offer that children in general, but specifically my children, can understand so much more than is required of them by today's standards that letting them be bored by lack of direction and requiring nothing of them except for free-play is an outragous waste of life.

Since you belong to this forum, I'll take a guess that you agree that learning a second language is a valuable endeavor. Perhaps, at least as valuable as riding bikes?